Support for switch mechanisms



Oct. 20, 1931. H CRABBS 1,828,281

SUPPORT FOR SWITCH MECHANISMS Filed Feb. 17, 1928 INVENTOR Herberfldrabbs.

- ATTORNEY j as and illustra PM o uzo, os

UN ITE n STATES,

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My invention relates to su' ports for switch mechanism, and particular y to disconnecting switches and the manner in which the hinge jaws and contact jaws thereof are secured to their insulating supports.

' An object of my invention is provide a mounting for contact and hiniejaws of disconnecting switches, wherein t jaws are securely anchored to the supporting insulator {a such manner that they will not rotate with to the insulator during and after the assembly thereupon.

7 Another object of my invention is to provide a mounting for t e-hinge and contact jaws of a disconnecting SWltCll having the above-noted. characteristics, wherein the mproved form of mounting is apphcable to standard disconnect switch jaws with but little alteration to the jaws and to the insula- 28' with respect to the ends or supporting faces of the insulators, in order to provide an a rcirculating space whichcommunicates with. an open bore in the insulator, thereb providing ample ventilation of parts who may an become heated durin service.

' These and other jects of my invention that will be made apparent throughout the further description thereof are attained by means of the a paratus hereinafter described in the accompanying drawingg, wherein;

igure 1 is a top plan view of a disconnecting switch embodying features of my invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the disconnect' switch shown in Fig. 1, with a portion 0 the device shown in vertical section,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view in enlarged scale of a fragment of the device similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a soft metal lug.

Referring to the drawings, the disconnect- I ing switch comprises a metal supporting '50 frame 4 upon which insulatingbushings 5 are secured by means of bolts 6. The insulators are of the usual construction, except that the bore 7 which extends therethrough is en larged at its lower end and the end is pro vided with an annular groove .for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

- The hinge jaw 8 and the contact jaw 9 are similar in construction, with the exception that the former is provided with a pivot 11 about which the switch blade 12 may be i'o-v tated into and out of engagement with the contact blade 9 which is provided with slots 13-to render it more resilient. Each blade is provided with a base plate or disc 14 having an integral threaded stud 15 that extends through the bpre 7 of the insulator 5 and is secured thereto by means of a nut 16, a wash.- er 17 being disposed between the end of the bushing 5 and the nut, as indicated in Fig. 2. It has been found that disconnecting switch jaws have a tendency to rotate with respect to the insulator and when this occurs, it is very diflicult, if not impossible, to close the switch into proper engagement with the contact jaw. Various forms of dowels have been used but their use necessitates very accurate alignment in order that the switch jaws may be disposed in true alignment when the jaws are assembled upon the insulators. Due to the rocess under which insulators are formed, it is practically impossible to produce sockets for the dowel of suflicient accuracy to prevent movement of the switch jaws with respect to the insulators, and it is obvious that very little angular movement of the switch jaw with respect to the insulator will cause the switch blade to be moved suflicient distance as to render it impossible to close the switch blade.

In order to obviate this difiiculty and to simplify the process of manufacturing the insulators, I have provided insulators with annular grooves 18 that are roughened by coating the surface of the grooves with sand before the porcelain insulator is fired. The jaw. bases 14 are provided with a plurality of recesses 19 in which soft metal lugs 21, preferably made of lead or other compressible metal, that will indent under pressure, are placed in such manner that when the base In plates 14 are drawn toward the insulator,

' jaws will not shift with respect to the insulators and become misaligned under the most severe service conditions.

The lugs may be made of a metal allo having the desirable degree of softness that will permanently retain the switch jaws in fixed position, and at the same time maintain the base plates 14 out of actual contact with the insulator 5, thereby providing an air circulating space 23 that communicates with i the bore 7 of the insulator.

It will be noted that the washers 17 are provided with perforations 24 that register with the enlarged portion of the bore 7. By reason of this construction, air will be permitted to circulate through the bore and around the base plate 14 of the switch jaws and maintain them at relatively low operating temperatures.

In place of the four soft metal lugs 21, a soft metal ring. may be substituted and the inner face of the base 14 may be roughened by knurling to provide frictional engagement with the soft metal ring. Such construction is illustrated in Fig. 3.

While I have illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the. spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in-the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

'1. The combination with an electrical conductor element and a supporting insulator therefor, each having a recess in the adjacent faces thereof, of a compressible insert disposed between the adjacent faces and fitting into the said recesses for preventing relative lateral displacement of the element and insulator and means for clamping said members together without afiecting relative angular movement thereof.

2. The combination with a metal element and a supporting member therefor, each having recessed adjacent surfaces, of-a relatively soft metal member disposed between the adjacent faces and adapted to flow into the recesses and lock the element and supporting member against relative movement in the plane of the adjacent faces and means for clamping said members together-without affecting relative angular movement thereof.

3. An electrical device comprising an insulating support having a groove in the supporting face thereof having an irregular surface, and an electrical conductor element havtherethrough and an annular groove in the supporting face thereof surrounding the said bore, a conductor element having a clamping member extending through the bore for securing the element to the support, and soft metal su porting in s anchored to the saidelement or frictiona y engaging the oove and preventing relative rotation of t e element and the support.

5. An electrical device comprising an insulating support having a bore extending therethrough and an annular roove in the supporting face thereof, an e ectrical conductor having a base member rovided with recesses and a clamping mem er extending through the bore in the insulating support for securing the conductor to the support,

and soft metal lugs disposed between the bore member and the support, and ada ted to be pressed into the said recesses an irregularities in the surface of the groove for preventing relative rotation of the element and the support.

6. An electrical device comprisin aninsulating support having an open ore extending therethrough and. having a supporting face, an electrical conductor provided with a base and a clam member extending through the said bore or securing the conductor to the support, and means disposed between the base and the su portin face of the support for holding the ase an support in spaced relation to provide an air circulating space between the base and the support, and communicating with the said bore.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name this 13th day of February, 19 8.

HERBERT J. ORABBS. 

